Grant-Hadley Enterprises
Encyclopedia
Grant-Hadley Enterprises was the first of three names used by an American
small press
publishing house specializing in science fiction
titles. The company was founded in 1945 by Donald M. Grant
and Thomas G. Hadley and published one title as Grant-Hadley Enterprises. Kenneth J. Krueger joined the company in 1946 and the name was changed to The Buffalo Book Company. Later in 1946, Hadley continued the company on his own as The Hadley Publishing Co.
in 1945. The bookstore had recently acquired the library of fellow Providence native, H. P. Lovecraft
, from his estate. Grant and Hadley wanted to see if there was anything of interest. In the course of the chance meeting, they struck up a conversation about Lovecraft and decided that there should be a volume of memoirs by Providence natives who had known Lovecraft. They ended up publishing Rhode Island on Lovecraft
which was successful enough to warrant a second edition.
, was drafted in 1945 and eventually stationed near Providence. Krueger joined the venture bringing with him a mailing list from his book selling business. At this point, Donald Grant had also entered the military and was stationed in Texas
. Krueger talked Tom Hadley into changing the name of the publisher to The Buffalo Book Company. The first book published by The Buffalo Book Company was The Time Stream
, by John Taine. The book did not sell well which delayed their second publication of The Skylark of Space
by E. E. Smith
.
ordered a copy of Skylark of Space from The Buffalo Book Company, in 1945 or 1946. Frustrated by the publishing delays, Eshbach wrote to the Buffalo Book Company offering suggestions as to how they could better market their books. Thus started a correspondence between Eshbach and Tom Hadley with Eshbach continuing to offer advice. At this point Ken Krueger had moved back to Buffalo and Don Grant was attending college, though he continued to offer recommendations on what to publish. Hadley decided to continue the company on his own, renaming it The Hadley Publishing Co.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
publishing house specializing in science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
titles. The company was founded in 1945 by Donald M. Grant
Donald M. Grant
Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. is a fantasy and science fiction small press publisher in New Hampshire that was founded in 1964. It is notable for publishing fantasy and horror novels with lavish illustrations, most notably Stephen King's The Dark Tower series and the King/Peter Straub novel The...
and Thomas G. Hadley and published one title as Grant-Hadley Enterprises. Kenneth J. Krueger joined the company in 1946 and the name was changed to The Buffalo Book Company. Later in 1946, Hadley continued the company on his own as The Hadley Publishing Co.
Grant-Hadley Enterprises
Donald M. Grant first met Thomas G. Hadley at Dana's Old Corner Bookstore in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
in 1945. The bookstore had recently acquired the library of fellow Providence native, H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, from his estate. Grant and Hadley wanted to see if there was anything of interest. In the course of the chance meeting, they struck up a conversation about Lovecraft and decided that there should be a volume of memoirs by Providence natives who had known Lovecraft. They ended up publishing Rhode Island on Lovecraft
Rhode Island on Lovecraft
Rhode Island on Lovecraft is a collection of memoirs about H. P. Lovecraft and is edited by Donald M. Grant and Thomas G. Hadley. The memoirs were written by those who had lived in Providence, Rhode Island with Lovecraft. It was released in 1945 by Grant-Hadley Enterprises in an edition of 500...
which was successful enough to warrant a second edition.
Works published by Grant-Hadley Enterprises
- Rhode Island on Lovecraft, edited by Donald M. Grant and Thomas G. Hadley (1945)
The Buffalo Book Company
Kenneth J. Krueger, a science fiction fan and book seller from Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, was drafted in 1945 and eventually stationed near Providence. Krueger joined the venture bringing with him a mailing list from his book selling business. At this point, Donald Grant had also entered the military and was stationed in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Krueger talked Tom Hadley into changing the name of the publisher to The Buffalo Book Company. The first book published by The Buffalo Book Company was The Time Stream
The Time Stream
The Time Stream is a science fiction novel by author John Taine . The novel was originally serialized in four parts in the magazine Wonder Stories beginning in December 1931. It was first published in book form in 1946 by The Buffalo Book Company in an edition of 2,000 copies of which only 500 were...
, by John Taine. The book did not sell well which delayed their second publication of The Skylark of Space
The Skylark of Space
The Skylark of Space by Edward E. "Doc" Smith was written between 1915 and 1921 while Smith was working on his doctorate. Though the original idea for the novel was Smith's, he co-wrote the first part of the novel with Lee Hawkins Garby, the wife of his college classmate and later neighbor Carl Garby...
by E. E. Smith
E. E. Smith
Edward Elmer Smith, Ph.D., also, E. E. Smith, E. E. "Doc" Smith, Doc Smith, "Skylark" Smith, and Ted was a food engineer and early science fiction author who wrote the Lensman series and the Skylark series, among others...
.
Works published by The Buffalo Book Company
- The Time Stream, by John Taine (1946)
- The Skylark of Space by E. E. Smith (1946)
The Hadley Publishing Co.
Lloyd Arthur EshbachLloyd Arthur Eshbach
Lloyd Arthur Eshbach was an American science fiction fan, publisher and writer, secular and religious publisher, and minister....
ordered a copy of Skylark of Space from The Buffalo Book Company, in 1945 or 1946. Frustrated by the publishing delays, Eshbach wrote to the Buffalo Book Company offering suggestions as to how they could better market their books. Thus started a correspondence between Eshbach and Tom Hadley with Eshbach continuing to offer advice. At this point Ken Krueger had moved back to Buffalo and Don Grant was attending college, though he continued to offer recommendations on what to publish. Hadley decided to continue the company on his own, renaming it The Hadley Publishing Co.
Works published by The Hadley Publishing Co.
- The Weapon MakersThe Weapon MakersThe Weapon Makers is a science fiction novel by A. E. van Vogt.The novel was originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction in February–April 1943. In book form , this serial was first published in 1947...
, by A. E. van VogtA. E. van VogtAlfred Elton van Vogt was a Canadian-born science fiction author regarded by some as one of the most popular and complex science fiction writers of the mid-twentieth century: the "Golden Age" of the genre....
(1946) - The Mightiest MachineThe Mightiest MachineThe Mightiest Machine is a science fiction novel by author John W. Campbell, Jr. It was published in book form in 1947 by The Hadley Publishing Co. in an edition of 1,200 copies...
, by John W. Campbell, Jr. (1947) - The Skylark of Space by E. E. Smith (1947), reset from The Buffalo Book Company edition
- Final BlackoutFinal BlackoutFinal Blackout is a dystopic science fiction novel by author L. Ron Hubbard. The novel is set in the future and follows a man known as "the Lieutenant" as he restores order to England after a world war...
, by L. Ron HubbardL. Ron HubbardLafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
(1948)